Power supply system and program

Abstract

A power supply system includes a third-X electrical path which has a portion defined as a common path shared with at least portions of a second-X electrical path and a second-Y electrical path. The common path has a shared current sensor therein.

1 . A power supply system which is connected to a high-voltage circuit through a high-voltage power supply line and a high-voltage ground line, also connected to a low-voltage circuit through a low-voltage power supply line and a low-voltage ground line, and includes a plurality of electrical accumulators, comprising:
 a first switch which is configured to selectively establish or block an electrical connection of a first electrical accumulator that is one of the electrical accumulators to the high-voltage circuit;   a second switch which is configured to selectively establish or block an electrical connection of a second accumulator that is one of the electrical accumulators to the first electrical accumulator;   a third switch which is configured to selectively establish or block an electrical connection between the second electrical accumulator and the low-voltage circuit;   a switch controller which is configured to control operations of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch, and wherein   the second switch includes a second-X switch and a second-Y switch, the second-X switch working to selectively connect or disconnect a second-X electrical path connecting between a first end of the second electrical accumulator and the first electrical accumulator, the second-Y switch working to electrically connect or disconnect a second-Y electrical path extending between a second end of the second electrical accumulator which is located away from the first end of the second electrical accumulator and one of the high-voltage power supply line and the high-voltage ground line,   the third switch includes a third-X switch and a third-Y switch, the third-X switch working to electrically connect or disconnect a third-X electrical path extending between a positive terminal of the second electrical accumulator and the low-voltage power supply line, the third-Y switch working to electrically connect or disconnect a third-Y electrical path extending between a negative terminal of the second electrical accumulator and the low-voltage ground line,   at least one of the third-X electrical path and the third-Y electrical path has a common path, the common path of the third-X electrical path being shared with at least portions of the second-X electrical path and the second-Y electrical path, the common path of the third-Y electrical path being shared with at least portions of the second-X electrical path and the second-Y electrical path, and   the common path has a shared current sensor disposed therein.   
     
     
         2 . The power supply system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the shared current sensor has a measurement range which is selectively changed depending on an on- or off-states of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch, the shared current sensor also has a resolution which is selectively changed with a change in the measurement range. 
     
     
         3 . The power supply system as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a malfunction determiner which is configured to diagnose malfunctions of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch, and wherein
 the malfunction determiner works to analyze an output from the shared current sensor obtained when the second switch is changed between an on-state and an off-state thereof to determine whether the second switch is malfunctioning,   the malfunction determiner also works to analyze an output from the shared current sensor obtained when the third switch is changed between an on-state and an off-state thereof to determine whether the third switch is malfunctioning.   
     
     
         4 . The power supply system as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the measurement range of the shared current sensor is selectively changed depending upon the on- and off-states of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch, the resolution of the shared current sensor is changed with a change in the measurement range,
 the malfunction determiner changes the measurement range depending upon which of the second switch and the third switch is required to be diagnosed in malfunction.   
     
     
         5 . A program executable by a controller installed in a power supply system which is connected to a high-voltage circuit through a high-voltage power supply line and a high-voltage ground line, also connected to a low-voltage circuit through a low-voltage power supply line and a low-voltage ground line, and includes a plurality of electrical accumulators, the power supply system comprising:
 (a) a first switch which is configured to selectively establish or block an electrical connection of a first electrical accumulator that is one of the electrical accumulators to the high-voltage circuit;   (b) a second switch which is configured to selectively establish or block an electrical connection of a second accumulator that is one of the electrical accumulators to the first electrical accumulator; and   (c) a third switch which is configured to selectively establish or block an electrical connection between the second electrical accumulator and the low-voltage circuit, wherein   the second switch includes a second-X switch and a second-Y switch, the second-X switch working to selectively connect or disconnect a second-X electrical path connecting between a first end of the second electrical accumulator and the first electrical accumulator, the second-Y switch working to electrically connect or disconnect a second-Y electrical path extending between a second end of the second electrical accumulator which is located away from the first end of the second electrical accumulator and one of the high-voltage power supply line and the high-voltage ground line,   the third switch includes a third-X switch and a third-Y switch, the third-X switch working to electrically connect or disconnect a third-X electrical path extending between a positive terminal of the second electrical accumulator and the low-voltage power supply line, the third-Y switch working to electrically connect or disconnect a third-Y electrical path extending between a negative terminal of the second electrical accumulator and the low-voltage ground line,   the program performing:   a switch control task to control operations of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch; and   a malfunction diagnosis task to diagnose malfunctions of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch, wherein   at least one of the third-X electrical path and the third-Y electrical path has a common path, the common path of the third-X electrical path being shared with at least portions of the second-X electrical path and the second-Y electrical path, the common path of the third-Y electrical path being shared with at least portions of the second-X electrical path and the second-Y electrical path,   the common path has a shared current sensor disposed therein,   the malfunction diagnosis task works to analyze an output from the shared current sensor obtained when the second switch is changed between an on-state and an off-state thereof to determine whether the second switch is malfunctioning, and   the malfunction diagnosis task also works to analyze an output from the shared current sensor obtained when the third switch is changed between an on-state and an off-state thereof to determine whether the third switch is malfunctioning.   
     
     
         6 . The power supply system as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising a malfunction determiner which is configured to diagnose malfunctions of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch, and wherein
 the malfunction determiner works to analyze an output from the shared current sensor obtained when the second switch is changed between an on-state and an off-state thereof to determine whether the second switch is malfunctioning,   the malfunction determiner also works to analyze an output from the shared current sensor obtained when the third switch is changed between an on-state and an off-state thereof to determine whether the third switch is malfunctioning.   
     
     
         7 . The power supply system as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the measurement range of the shared current sensor is selectively changed depending upon the on- and off-states of the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch, the resolution of the shared current sensor is changed with a change in the measurement range,
 the malfunction determiner changes the measurement range depending upon which of the second switch and the third switch is required to be diagnosed in malfunction.